Before the Dog became Man’s first friend… before the Horse carried riders across the plains… before the Cow gave milk beside the fire… there was the Cat. In this timeless tale from Rudyard Kipling’s beloved Just So Stories, listeners are taken back to the earliest days of the world, when animals were wild and humans were only just learning how to make a home. One by one the wild creatures of the forest make bargains with the Woman of the Cave and become the first companions of humankind. But the Cat is different. Proud, clever, and fiercely independent, the Cat refuses to serve anyone. Instead, he makes a bargain entirely his own—one that lets him keep his freedom while still enjoying the warmth of the fire and a bowl of warm milk. Full of wit, charm, and gentle humor, The Cat That Walked by Himself explains—in Kipling’s wonderfully imaginative way—why cats live alongside people yet always remain a little wild at heart. Narrated by Tony J. Martin, this classic story captures the magic and playful storytelling that have delighted listeners for generations. This audiobook is presented with a Certified Human Voice, performed by a real narrator with no AI-generated narration.
Authors
Shoo Rayner is a British author and illustrator of children's books who lives in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. He has written and illustrated over 300 books for children, including picture books, early readers, and chapter books. His work covers a range of genres, from adventure stories to humorous tales, and often features animal characters. Some of his most popular series include "Ricky Rocket," "Dragon Gold," and "Viking Vik." In addition to his work as an author and illustrator, Rayner is also a popular drawing teacheron YouTube. He has over 380,00 subscribers to his channel, where he shares his knowledge of drawing and the making of children's books and offers tips and advice for aspiring writers and illustrators. Overall, Shoo Rayner is a well-respected figure in the world of children's literature, known for his engaging stories, charming illustrations, and dedication to inspiring the next generation of young readers and creators. (Well, that's what ChatGPT3 said!)
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift". Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author." Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
